Paladino
An Italian surname usually understood as a nickname for a knightly or paladin-like man, or as a name linked to the medieval figure of a paladin.
The #9,925 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 94,911 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Paladino is an Italian surname built on paladino, meaning “paladin” or “knight.” The word ultimately goes back to Medieval Latin palatinus, “of the palace,” through the French and Italian tradition of the paladins, the heroic warriors associated with Charlemagne. As a surname, it most likely began as a nickname for someone seen as brave, chivalrous, or connected in some way with a retainer or courtly role.
History
The surname is found in Italy, especially in southern and central areas, and it also spread through Italian emigration to the Americas and elsewhere. Like many Italian surnames, it may have arisen independently in more than one place from the same nickname source. In English-speaking countries it is usually recognized as an Italian heritage name.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same root that lies behind Paladino also gave English the word paladin, used for a heroic champion.